Learning
from Others: Sorting Out Your Theology in an Interfaith
Environment(TH-690)
Summer 2004

The
vast majority of religious people draw upon one religious
tradition to shape their beliefs about life and practice. Yet
theoretically many people believe that there is much insight
and wisdom in other religious traditions.In this course, we attempt to construct our theology
consciously in conversation with other religious traditions.Four major areas are explored: revelation, human
nature, creation, and society.In each case we will struggle with major thinkers in
each tradition, looking with care at the underlying structure
of belief, the differences and similarities across traditions,
and whether or not this or that insight can be accommodated
into our own personal theological project.
and

Five
page doubled spaced book review of Keith Ward, The Case for Religion.

Course
breakdown:

Monday
June 21:

Morning:
Input session: Comparative Theology: what is it?Is it OK for Christians to learn from those who are not
saved through Christ?

Discussion.

Afternoon:
Input session: Revelation: how do we know which book is the
revelation from God?

Discussion.

Tuesday
June 22:

Case
Study 1: Learning from Science.

We
start the process of learning from others by engaging with the
scientific narrative.What
are the implications of the new physics for our worldview?

Wednesday
June 23:

Case
Study 2: Different views of society.

Some
Muslims want an Islamic state; the BJP are arguing for Hindutva;
others are committed to the separation of church and state.How do we start a conversation around the crucial question
of social organization?

Afternoon:
Discussion of the book reviews.

Thursday
June 24:

Case
Study 3: Different views of life after death.

Reincarnation,
rebirth, heaven, hell, or nothing.Which is it?

Friday
June 25:

Putting
it all together.Do
you just end up muddled and confused at the end of the process?

Assessment:

One
5-page doubled space book review of Keith Ward’s In
defense of religion.(To be handed in on Wednesday June 23)

One
15-page research paper which takes one issue from a range of
different vantage points.Possibilities include: science, life after death,
society, women, nature of God, nature of revelation, views of
personhood, ethical issues, and religious organization. (To be
handed in on August 10)